sm:invalidate-prep

Surface and rank assumptions, personas, and problem statements for invalidation interviews.

5|2|Updated Mar 8, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/mnfst-ai/Stage_Manager_Skills --skill sm-invalidate-prep
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: sm:invalidate-prep
Source: https://github.com/mnfst-ai/Stage_Manager_Skills/tree/main/plugins/stage-manager/skills/invalidate-prep
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/mnfst-ai/Stage_Manager_Skills --skill sm-invalidate-prep

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

Excavation: surface the hidden assumptions behind an idea, rank them by cost-if-wrong, and prepare for invalidation interviews with named personas and testable problem statements, all before writing code or building features.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Excavate and surface load-bearing assumptions from a spec or concept.
  • Rank assumptions by cost-if-wrong and identify the riskiest bets.
  • Name personas and generate problem statements to guide interviews.
  • Provide a reproducible output structure (Opening, Top Risks, Gaps, Personas, Problem Statements, Close) to accelerate validation workflows.

Quick Start

Invoke the invalidation prep flow on your idea to surface assumptions, rank them, name personas, and draft problem statements for interviews.

Frequently Asked Questions about sm:invalidate-prep

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I validate product assumptions before writing any code?

To validate assumptions before coding, you can surface and rank the hidden bets underlying your concept by cost-if-wrong, then generate named personas and testable problem statements to guide invalidation interviews.

What is the best way to rank assumptions by risk during early-stage concept validation?

Ranking assumptions by risk during concept validation involves evaluating each assumption's cost-if-wrong to identify your riskiest bets, ensuring you prioritize invalidation interviews for the most critical product unknowns.

How do I prepare for invalidation interviews with named personas?

Preparing for invalidation interviews requires generating explicit persona definitions and testable problem statements from your core concept, providing ready-to-run interview prompts to structure your validation workflow.

Can I generate testable problem statements from a product spec before building features?

Yes, you can excavate load-bearing assumptions directly from a product spec to generate testable problem statements, enabling early-stage validation and accelerating the workflow before feature development begins.

Does assumption invalidation work for early-stage concept validation without prior dependencies?

Assumption invalidation works for early-stage concept validation without prior dependencies, directly processing your raw concept to surface gaps, name personas, and output a reproducible structure for immediate interviews.

When should I not use assumption invalidation in my product workflow?

You should not use assumption invalidation if your concept is already validated and code is written, as this process targets pre-code excavation of hidden risks, persona generation, and interview preparation.